Edam and Volendam

Today was a really relaxing day. After we saw Dave, Keller, and Eric off to the trainstation at 7am, Boudine and I went back to bed. Later in the afternoon we rode our bikes to the small towns of Edam and Volendam with her parents. In Edam, we went to two museums with our museum passes that Boudines mom got for us. We also stopped at bakery with the most awesome looking desserts I've ever seen (Everytime I try a new Dutch food I claim that it's my favorite). Edam is a very historic town with old houses and beautiful little canals. From Edam we rode to Volendam, a fishing town which lies on the IJsselmeer. There was a festival going on so there was live music along with a ton of people. Here, I tried Poffertjes (tiny little pancakes that taste way better than any pancake I've ever had) which is currently my new favorite Dutch food (only until dinner tonight, I'm sure). Boudine and I also had our pictures taken in traditional Dutch outfits so you will definitely have to check out those pictures! After we left Volendam we took a different route home and stopped at small shop where Dutch clogs are made. Here I got to sample about ten different kinds of Dutch cheese as well as a Dutch liquor. I purchased a pair of wooden clogs (a suprise suvenir for someone!) and tired to get my dad some of the Dutch liquor only to find out I wouldn't be able to bring it home to the US. From the shop we headed home, along a bike path through some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seen. While Amsterdam and London are more well know, my favorite places on the trip so far have been to the small historic towns like Hoorn, Edam, and Volendam. The Netherlands is a beautiful country to which my pictures do no justice...and the food is really good! Like I said in my last post, tomorrow we leave for Paris! Until then... check out my pictures from today and take care.